Gavin's Tail Twister #17: My What a Strong Grip You Have!

On this particular Saturday in October 2010, Sammy (10) had two baseball games. As soon as we got up that morning, Gavin (7) started yapping. All I could think was that I needed quiet and coffee! No time for that, we needed to be out the door in 45 minutes to be at the ball field by 9AM. Sam and his dad departed the house early and Gavin and I followed 30 min later. Gavin wanted to sell raffle ticket for the upcoming annual Jazz Festival in Macon so he got some tickets and flyers and proceeded to try to get me to be his first customer. I told him I would buy but just a little later like during the game. He yapped at me in the car for the entire drive there about how he would need my help selling. I told him he was on his own and that I was not feeling well. He continued to tell me over and over again until ultimately I started agreeing without even listening. Once I realized what had happened it was too late. Gavin was now giving me selling and marketing tips. I translated that into I would actually have to do most of the selling myself. We got to the ball field and Gavin sat down next to me and started in on how he needed money for the (in Gavin talk)"con-ssess-son" stand so I needed to get up off my chair and get to selling. That went on for 15 minutes, I bought $20 worth of raffle tickets to shut him up and then the begging started about how Gavin needed more sales. OMG! I couldn't take it. I asked nicely over and over again for Gavin to sit still and quietly so we could watch the game or he could go play with his little ball park friends. Hey he could even try to make some sales on his own. I warned him that he may get in trouble if he continued. HE CONTINUED of of course. When I could not take it for another second, I snatched him up and said "COME WITH ME!" Gavin was so shocked by the tone of my voice out in public...that he responded with absolutely nothing! He simply followed behind me like a Rag Doll stumbling as we went. I sensed he was a slight bit surprise by my behavior and even a bit embarrassed by it. He was quiet for the entire length of me yanking him behind me to the next baseball field. I could tell he was wide eyed and worried about what was to happen next. Knowing that he was in deep trouble and afraid that I was going to eat him like the Big Bad Wolf wanted to those little pigs in "The Three Little Pigs", Gavin did not want to upset me any more that I already was. Gavin's eyes shifted around to see who was close enough to hear as he said in his tiny scared voice "My...mommy, what a strong grip you have!" The mounting tension in my shoulders as well as in my vice-like grip immediately relaxed. I gave Gavin a stern talking right out in public. We walked back to our lounge chairs and I sat peacefully without even a single interruption for the remainder of the game, Wow...he can do it! That night as I wrote this story and reflected upon the day, I thought to myself how often does one get to truly appreciate the perspective of a 7 year old. As tight a grip as I had on him, he probably did think I was going to eat him. All I know is that God made coffee for a reason and I should definitely not be skipping that on Saturday mornings.

Gavin's Tail Twister #16: I'm Just One Man!

On this particular Saturday morning, I had plans for myself. I wanted to drink my coffee in peace and cross some stuff off my never ending list. Blogging was one item on that list. I think I have to blog more regularly or I fear I won't remember what all the funny details of my life are and there are lots of them. I worry that early Alzheimer is working it's way into my life. In fact I am pretty sure I could hide my own Easter Eggs. Ha!
Back to the Gavin story:
I was sipping and blogging as the children were circling the kitchen hunting for "BACON" and other yummy breakfast food. The TV was on loud and the dog was sniffing around. You know what that means! Both Gavin and his brother Sam were supposed to go to friends houses today and I wanted all weekend homework and chores completed before they left. (All of the following happened in about 30 seconds while I was barking orders from my lounge position on the couch.)"Boys if you want to get to your friends houses on time you need to get your morning stuff accomplished. Turn off the TV and report to me... send the dog outside....finish your morning reading and piano practice... eat some fruit with what ever it is you pick from the kitchen... I want all your work done before you leave this house...I want you guys to pick something and get it done and then report to me...one of you needs to unload the dishes and the other needs to load and take the trash out..." Gavin plunked himself down and picked up "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" and said "I am doing my reading" as if that would excuse him from doing anything else. I think he just wanted to look at the cartoon strip pictures. I said "Fine, I'll let you know when 15 minutes is up and you can proceed to get the rest of your to do list done before you go to your friends house." He had this surprised look on his face like I am reading and that should be enough. I said Gavin you still have get dressed, brush your teeth, wash your fac....". Gavin interrupted in a slightly high pitched frustrated voice " Mom I'M JUST ONE MAN!" I just laughed!

Gavin's Tail Twister #15: You Sucked Me In

Now that Gavin is seven years old, he is fully capable of getting his own breakfast and doing some small chores by himself. On this one particular day Gavin wanted bacon for breakfast... imagine that! He badgered me about bacon for an hour. I was so irritated by the fact that Gavin would not just settle for cereal or frozen waffles. It was Saturday! I cleaned the house and deep cleaned the kitchen on Friday. We had had a long week, there were no ball games on this one Saturday and I just wanted to chill instead of wait on everyone like a Waffle House Chef.
Finally, Gavin warmed up to cereal and milk or maybe he just got hungry enough to settle. Gavin poured some cereal in a bowl and lots of it. I was not watching because I wanted Gavin to tend to his needs. He proceeded to get out the milk and poured it over his cereal. Yes! There was too much cereal in the bowl and he needed a lot of milk so he overpoured it and it spilled all over the counter. He did not mean to but he did! Those of you who know all the dog drama in our house understand why I hate cleaning. That is an entire other story. So...the milk ran down into the drawers and on the floor. This of course means MORE CLEANING FOR ME! I started fussing! "Gavin couldn't you be more careful. You know I just cleanded the kitchen. Why did you pour so much cereal. You know that is not just one serving."
Gavin with his lips pushed out and trying to move all the milk around on the counter thinking he was cleaning responded "I know mom but I just wanted bacon...I was so hungry I wasn't ..."
"What? You weren't paying attention? Now your not really helping your just making a bigger mess and by the way you have left the refrigerator door open this whole time!"
" Mom, I couldn't help that... you, you, you SUCKED ME IN the whole conversation about the mess I was making and that made me forget about the refrigerator door being open!"
"I see Gavin! You know Gavin, you are probably right. I should have just made you bacon!"